New campaign group to monitor Istanbul Biennial developments following curator row

The group says that announcements from the biennial's governing body have overlooked and diminished the decision of the four artists who withdrew this past October
Photo: IKSV via Wikimedia Commons
A campaign group concerned about the future of the Istanbul Biennial—now postponed until 2025—says that it will be “monitoring the structural changes” pledged for the next edition by the Istanbul Foundation for Culture and Arts (İKSV), the private foundation which administers the event.
Earlier this month, Iwona Blazwick, the former director of London’s Whitechapel Gallery, stepped down as curator of the next Istanbul Biennial, the latest development in a row which erupted last summer following her appointment by İKSV.
The controversy ignited in August when The Art Newspaper reported that in February last year, the Istanbul Biennial’s advisory board unanimously chose the Turkish curator Defne Ayas as the best candidate to curate the next biennial. However, the İKSV rejected the board’s recommendation and instead appointed Blazwick, the former director of the Whitechapel Gallery. At the time of her selection, Blazwick was a serving member of the advisory panel tasked with choosing a curator for the biennial.
Four artists invited to participate in the 18th Istanbul Biennial subsequently withdrew from the exhibition and İKSV brought in new measures in a bid to improve transparency.
Participants in two forums called “From Here to Where? The Case of the 18th Istanbul Biennial” have since released a statement outlining their concerns. The first forum, held on 7 January, was attended by more than 100 artists, curators and other cultural workers. According to ArtReview, two artists who pulled out of the biennial were present, along with representatives from the British Council, Istanbul Modern, and other institutions. Representatives from the Depo culture hub in Istanbul also turned up. The second forum was held 21 January.
In a statement, the group says that “with the language employed in its final announcement (19 January), İKSV diverges from its purported objective of cultivating a participatory environment rooted in dialogue”. The group adds: We firmly oppose reducing the significance of the 18B [18th Biennial] case to merely an isolated incident, or an honest communication mistake.", continuing: “This announcement also overlooks and diminishes the decision of the four artists who withdrew from the biennial in October 2023. It underscores İKSV's continued reluctance to acknowledge or take any responsibility for these withdrawals.
“With our statement. we reiterate our invitation extended prior to the first two forums and once again urge the IKSV management and the Istanbul Biennial team to engage in future forums.”
In a statement to The Art Newspaper, the İKSV says: "We remain committed to building and enhancing dialogue. We will be directly communicating with the forum participants and will participate in future forums. Also, we have invited forum participants to meetings that will be organised to assess İKSV’s decision-making mechanisms and we will be looking forward to our discussions."

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